Molding apparatus



Jan. 4, 1944. o. E. HERMANNS 2,333,329

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H glLl-EH l mfbL 47/727 4 23551 752727;

Jan. 4, 1944.

O. E. HERMANNS MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 4, 1944. o. E. HERMANNS MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r2 ErfibL 272: ELHEEPZEUUE Patented Jan. 4, 1944 MOLDING APPARATUS Otto E. Hermanns, Akron, hio, assignmto The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1940, Serial No. 372.441

11 Claims,

This invention relates to the moldingvof articles from rubber or other plastic'materials and is especially useful where. articles are to be molded by a progressive handling of the molds.

press in a lowered position, the elevated position of the press being shown in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan thereof, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away.

In apparatus .used heretofore for molding ar- Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the press and its ticles of plastic material by the application of supporting mechanism, parts being broken away pressure to a plurality of molds at one time, dlfliand parts shown in section. 1 a culties and objections have existed detracting .Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one of the platens. from the satisfactory character of such appa- Fig. 5 is a piping diagram of the apparatus. ratus. The objectionable characteristics have in- In accordance with the invention there is procluded the necessity in some cases of not only vided a molding press with means for elevating transporting the molds to the press but also liftand lowering it step by step to align its mold ing or lowering them to other levels for introducopenings successively at a loading station with tion into the press with an attendant inconmold conveying means and with means for loadvenience in handling or the necessity oi cumbermg and unloading it. Referring to the drawings some conveying apparatus, or both. Where the which show an embodiment of the invention in molds have been manipulated by hand the likeliwhich the press is operated by hydraulic preshood of injury to the operators has been present sure, the numeral. Ill designates the cylinder, Ii owing to the weight of the molds and the dlfllthe ram, and I! the head of a hydraulic press. culty of handling them and controlling the op- The head I2 is fixed with respect to the cylinder eration of the press. A further difliculty has re by squared posts i3, i4, I5, 16 which act. as guides suited from the fact that prior apparatus has and hold the cylinder and the head in spacedbeen of such a nature as to require considerable apart relation. A plurality of movable platens time and also waste of hydraulic medium for l1, l1. I are P ov d d w en e m, and movement of the press ram to accommodate a Tthe head and each comprises a plate having changing number of molds. In some cases there raised pa u de ibs 18, I! on its up r face has been an objectionable release of all pressure d fi K therebetween for S de y enon all the molds. gaging a mold M. Each platen as indicated in The present invention aims to overcome the Fig. 4, is cored or otherwise chambered, as at 20 foregoing and other difiiculties and to provide for circul tion of steam r ot r he t ng mediu safe and efllcient apparatus of new and improved arid s' -s s am c ecti s 2 a pr i construction and operation. I y so that the platens may be heated in series while The principal objects or theinvention are to permitting their separation from each other. provide for handling molds in succession into Guide pieces 23 are also mounted on the platens and out of the press and preferably at a constant to engage the squared rods. level, to provide this with minimum rele se of Located at the loading side of the press is a, pressure and minimum platen separation, 'especonveyor 24 comprising rails 25, 25 between cially i t early stages-of c regto provide for which are rotatably mounted a series of driven molding the article by applications of molding conveyor rolls such as 26 for feeding molds M to pressure progressively, to provide for release of the P G A S m c y 13 hav r8118 9. entrapped gases at regular intervals throughout 28', at the opposite side 01" the press supports the period of vulcanization of the articles, to prodriven conveyor rolls such as 30 for propelling vide for alignment of the press, preferably automolds away from the press. The conveyors 24, matic, at a loading and unloading level, to prc- 28 are at the same level so that molds may be vide for bodily elevating and lowering the press transferred from one to another through the to the transfer level, to provide against injury press. v to operators and equipment, and generally to To provide for aligning any of the mold openrovide efliciency of operation and facility of lngs with the conveyors, the entire press is handling. mounted on the ram 3| of a hydraulic cylinder These and other objects will appear from the 32. Conveniently, a pit 32' is provided below the following description and the accompanying floor 33 to receive the press, and the cylinder 32 drawings. is mounted at the bottom of the pit. When fluid Of the drawings: 7 under pressure is supplied to cylinder 32 through Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus partly a pipe it from a suitable source of hydraulic in section and partly broken away, showing the pressure by control mechanism hereinafter described, the press is raised with respect to the conveyors, and when the fluid pressure is released by the same control mechanism the press is lowered.

In order to prevent advance of a mold into the press when not desired, several idler rolls 35, 35', 35", are provided at the end of the conveyor 24 and spaced apart over suflicient area as to underlie a mold at the end of the conveyor. A pair of spring pressed stops 3B, 39 are also pivoted to the rails as at 40, 4| and have inwardly turned inclined ends 42, 43, normally in the path of the mold, to resist further movement of the molds.

The arrangement is such that when a procession of molds is advanced over the conveyor toward the press by the live rolls 26 the first mold of the procession advances to the stops 38, 39 which oifergreater resistance to forward travel than the frictional resistance of the molds to the live rolls 26 so that advance of the procession is delayer until the first mold is released by a superior pressure applied against the stops.

To provide such superior pressure for advancing the molds one at a time past stops 38, 39, a double-acting fluid pressure operated cylinder 44 is fixed above conveyor 24. Its piston 45 is fixed to a piston-rod 48 adapted to operate in a direction lengthwise of the rails 25. A ram 41 is fixed to the outer end of the piston rod, and a dependent dog 48 is hinged thereto, as at 49. The arrangement is such that when the piston is advanced toward the press, the dog 48 engages behind the leading mold and pushes it past the stops 38, 39, and on the return stroke the dog 48 swings on its pivot to clear the next mold and engages it from behind.

To provide for retaining the molds in closed relation when the press is opened to receive or discharge one of the molds, horizontally movable wedges 50, 50', 50", 50" are provided at the four corners of the press and each of these wedges i slideably mounted on stationary supports 36 for horizontal movement in position to engage under the uppermost movable platen of the press when the press is in its lowest position or under the other platens in succession when the press is successively adjusted to align other platens therewith as hereinafter described. To permit such engagement each platen I1 has its upper margin chamfered as at 54 to provide clearance for the wedges which are chamfered accordingly on their lower faces. This provides clearance space for the wedges to enter.

For supporting the platen underlying aqnold to be shifted while the wedges are supporting the platen thereabove in addition to the support afforded by the ram I I, and to support said platen should hydraulic pressure on the ram II fail, wedges 58, 58', 58", 58" are provided below wedges 50. These lower wedges are mounted to slide horizontally on stationary guides of support 36, 3B. A bracket 59 is fixed to each piston rod 51 and has an eye through which the shank of the wedge 58 is slideably mounted. A coil sprin 60 encircles the shank of the wedge and impinges against the bracket 59 at one end and against an abutment on the shank at the other. The arrangement is such that as each wedge 50 is advanced its corresponding wedge 58 is advanced with it under spring pressure and should the wedge 58 strike the edge of a platen it will stop its advance until'the platen is raised above it. The Wedge 58 serves as a safety device in case the pressure on the ram II fails or the ram descends too far to support the platen under the molds being transferred at the transfer level.

Opening and closing of the press at regular intervals is controlled by suitable means such as an electrical timing mechanism of well known construction indicated at 15 in Fig. 5. This mechanism closes an electrical circuit at regular intervals thereby releasingthe pressure on ram- I I causing it to descend until a finger IE on the edge of .the uppermost platen engages a contactor I! located in" its path. This contactor through suitable control mechanism arrests downward movement of the ram by control of the hydraulic water supply and exhaust. The

entire lowering movement of the ram is Just sufficient to provide clearance to remove the top mold.

Simultaneous with the stopping of the ram H in its lowering movement, ram 41 is forced forward, initiated by contactor I1, and propelling the first mold into the space above the upper-s. most movable platen. Any mold occupying that space is moved out by the incoming mold onto conveyor 28.

As the ram 41 reaches a position near the press where the mold has been sufllciently advanced, it engages a contactor I8, fixed in position with respect to the conveyor, which through suitable control mechanism elevates the ram II closing the press and simultaneously reverses the supply and exhaust to cylinder 44, returning the ram 41 to its original positon. The outgoing mold,

I when it has cleared the press, depresses a condraulic pressure to cylinder 32, and closes the drain thereto, thereby raising the press to a new level. 1

When the new level is reached a similar finger I IS on the second platen depresses a contactor II which through suitable control mechanism closes the supply line 34 and stops the second platen above the elevation of the conveyors so that on' subsequent lowering of the ram II the second platen II will be lowered to the level of the conveyors. Each of the platens is provided with such a projecting fing'er I6, 16'.

When the press is stopped in its elevating movement by contact of its finger 16,16 with contactor 80, the wedges 50 arelsimultaneously advanced toward the platens through suitable control mechanism. so as to hold the platens thereabove and the molds thereon in closed relation and to prevent lowering of themolds above the molds to'be transferred below the conveyor evel.

Openin and closing of the press is performed as each platen reaches the transfer level and between opening movements. the press is elevated step by step until the lowest mold on the press has been closed. The press will then be at its highest position in which at the last clos ing movement, an arm I00 fixed to the lowest platen depresses a contactor IOI fixed to the support 36 and through-suitable mechanism withdraws thewedges while the ram 3| lowers the press to its lowest position at which an arm I02 on the press cylinder I 0 depresses a contactor I03 fixed in the pit 32 and through suitable mechanism pushes the wedges in again.

To provide for causing contactors TI and to be inoperative during the lowering of the press and thereby preventing their repeated operation by contact with fingers IS on each platen as the platens pass them, these contactors are mounted on a panel I04 mounted to slide horizontally on stationary ways I05, fixed to support 36, and fixed to the piston rod I06 of a stationary double acting fluid pressure cylinder I01 fixed to said support. The arrangement is such that by means of the cylinder the con'tactors may be moved into or out of platen contacting position. When the press is elevated to its highest position and contactor IOI fixed to support 36 is depressed by an arm I fixed to the bottom platen, the cylinder I0I is energized through suitable mechanism to withdraw the panel and when the press is lowered to its lowest position so that arm I02 engages contactor I03 the cylinder is energized through suitable mechanism to return the panel to operative position.

Apparatus is provided to prevent the raising or lowering of the press unless a mold from con-- veyor 24 has fully entered the press. For this.

purpose a contactor I00 extends above the conveyor 24 *at its end nearest the press. This contactor is connected to .the press elevating mechanism so that when a mold is lying thereover the elevating mechanism is inoperative. A similar contactor I09 normally projects above conveyor 22 and is so connected with the press elevating mechanism that presence of a mold thereover will prevent operation of the elevating mechanism. It is located beyond contactor I3 at such a position asto contact with a mold on the conveyor thereover when a mold leaving the press in procession isover contactor 19. It is useful in case the outgoing conveyor 28 becomes so crowded as to prevent the ram 41- trom pushing a mold completely from the press.

Where the elevator 3I iscontrolled hydraulically it is desirable to decelerate the elevator asit nears its lowest position so as not to stop the weight of the press'suddenly. For this purpose a cam arm IIO ismounted on the press in position to'depress a contactor III in advance of contact of arm I02 with contactor I03. Through suitable "control, mechanism contactor I III partially shuts oi! the drain line to cylinder 32 in advance ofv complete closing of the line by contactor I03.

To provide againstdamage to the conveyor 24 and to a mold passingrtherei'rom to the press 7 a finger I I Q. is mounted on the conveyor 24 in position to depress a contactor I II upon any sub stantial deflection of the conveyor. It acts through suitable" control mechanism to prevent elevation or lowering of the press.

To provide for manual operation of the press in the event of accident or for repair purposes. manually operated contactors II, III, and III are provided. These are located it convenient positions near the press. Contactor' II8 performs the same operations as contactor IOI and causes the elevator to descend. Contactor III is employed for stopping descent of the elevator and contactor I I1 causes the elevator to continue its descent after being stopped by contactor II. I

The control mechanism whereby the variousdrain opens and the supply line closes.

whereas some 01' the valves available on the market are built for lower operating pressures, such as 25 pounds per square inch. It is advisable therefore to operate some of the valves through relay .valves. This arrangement also makes possible the interlocking of the control mechanism so as to prevent undesirable movements of a machine element out of its regular turn.

Referring to Fig. 5, valve I20 is a two pressure four-way Sinclair hydraulic valve which is connected to cylinder -I0 of the press by a swing jointed pipe I2I for supplying hydraulic pressure to or draining the cylinder. When pressure is applied to the diaphragm of this valve it opens the supply line and closes the drain, and when pressure is not applied to the diaphragm the It is connected to a high pressure hydraulic supply line 300 directly and to a low pressure hydraulic supply line I22 through a second control valve I23. It is also connected directly to a drain line I24, and is of such construction that when the press is closed by the low pressure, the high pressure is automatically applied and when the press opens, the high pressure lime is automatically closed so that control of this low pressure line only is necessary to control of both high and low pressure. This valve I20 has its diaphragm I25 normally under air pressure supplied from a low pressure line 203 through a diaphragm controlled three-way air valve I25, adapted to connect it to the supply line 203 or to the atmosphere, which in turn is controlled by a Ross pilot controlled four-way master valve I21, having one outlet plugged, the pilot cylinder of which is controlled by exhaust through a Ross solenoid operated valve I28, to the atmosphere, or by supply of air. under pressure as hereinafter described. The solenoid of valve I28 is energized at regular intervals by the timer I5. Control valve I23 is normally closed and its diaphragm is controlled by pressure applied to its diaphragm and controlled by a three-way air valve I29, the diaphragm of which is controlled by a second diaphragm controlled three-way air valve I30, the diaphragm ofwhich is controlled by a Boss pilot controlled four-way master valve I3I, the pilot cylinder of which is exhausted by previous operation of a contactor valve 10 when the press is closed. When the press is to be opened, the timer I5 operates solenoid valve Infwhich permits exhaust of air from the pilot cylinder of valve I21. The pilot cylinder of valve I3I is in exhaust position at this time. Valve I21 exhausts the diaphragm of valve I28 which in turn exhausts the diaphragm oi valve-I25 which opens the drain and closes the supply lines tocylinder I0 causing the ram II to be lowered.

contactor I1 is a normally closed pilot valve which is adapted to supply compressed air at high pressure from a line I35 to the pilot cylinders of master valves I21 and I3I, these pilot cylinders being connected to each other by a line I36 having a check valve I31 therein which permits flow only from valve I3I toward valve I21.

sure is supplied to the pilot cylinders of valves I21 and HI. Valve I21 then applies pressure. to

. the diaphragms of valves I28 and I29 through line 200. and valve I2Iiputs pressure on the diaphragm of valve I20 thereby closing the; drain thereto and opening its supply line. However, at the same time valve I3I exhausts the diaphragm oi. valve I30 which in turn exhausts the diaphragm of valve I29 which in turn exhausts the diaphragm of valve I23 which closes the hydraulic supply line to cylinder I stopping the ram II in its lowering movement. As valve I20 controls both the drain line and the supply line to the press cylinder I0, and opens one as'its closes the other, the use of an additional valve I23 in the supply line makes possible the closing of the supply line and the drain line thereto at one time to hold the press platen at a certain position.

The control mechanism for closing the press, previously mentioned, is as follows: Contactor valve 18 is normally closed but when contacted v by ram 41 it opens line I3Bto exhaust. This exhausts the pilot cylinder of master valve I3I, but due to check valve I31. the pilot cylinder of mas ter valve I21 is not exhausted. Master valve I3I in this position applies pressure to the diaphragms of pilot valves I30 and HI. Valve I26 which controls valve I is directly on a line 200 and closesthe drain. and at the same time valve I30 opens under pressure a branch of this pressure line 200 extending from master'valve I21 to pilot valve I29 putting pressure on the diaphragm of valve I29 which opens applying pressure to the diaphragm of valve I23 which supplieshydraulic pressure to cylinder I0, closing the press. At the same time valve I4I reverses valve I40 to return the ram 41 as described in the following paragraph.

As previously describedfclosing of the press is initiated by contact of the ram 41, which loads the press, withcontactor 10. operates ram 41 has its opposite ends connected to a reversing valve I40 for hydraulic operation.

Valve I40 is a Sinclair four-way diaphragm operated hydraulic valve which is connectedto hydraulic supply line I22 and to drain line I24. Its diaphragm is controlled by a three-way air valve I4I' the diaphragm otwhich is operated by master valve I'3I, previously described. With the press closed, the pilot cylinder of valve I3I is ex Cylinder 44 which from line I35.

ram SI and for this purpose valve I55 is of small- I er size and provides less flow than valve I54. The diaphragm of valve I55 is controlledby a threeway air valve I and valve I54 is controlled by A line I59 also connects the diaphragm of valve I56 to a three-way air valve I50 andthrough a "Logan cycle valve I5I to 1;. "Ross four-way pilot controlled master valve I62; phragm of air valve 150 is-eontrolled by contactor valve II 5 or manually by valve II1, either of whichwhen depressed may apply air pressure to the diaphragm. Valve IIB-maybe manually operated to release such pressure.

The pilot cylinder of valve I62 is supplied with air under pressure through line I80 controlled by contactor valves IOI or I03 or manually by valve II8. Valves I M or IIO connect line I00 to exhaust whereas valve I03 applies pressure thereto The arrangement is such that when'the press is elevated to its highest position, valve IOI is temporarily opened to exhaust which releases pressure on pilot cylinder of master valve I62 which applies pressure to the diaphragms of valves I56 and I51 which exhaust the diaphragms of valves I54 and I opening the drain and lowering the press. As the press nears its lowest position cam I 02 on cylinder I0 opens contactor hausted, the diaphragm'valve MI is under pressure, and the piston of] cylinder is atthe rightend as seen in 1 igs.'1,"2, and 5. 'Where the press 'has been opened "so that valve 11 is opened by contact withf'th platen to be loaded, pressure is applied to th'e'pilot cylinder of valve I3I from a supply line I 3.5 which then exhausts pressure from valve I4I, which reverses valve I40 apply ing hydraulic pressure to the rear or right end 01' cylinder 44 and connecting its vforward end to the drain line, thereby advancing a'mold on conveyor 24 into the press. As the ram 41 reaches the end of its stroke it depresses contactor 18 which exhausts the pilot cylinder of valve I3I thereby exhausting valve I M which reverses valve I40 returning the ram 41. The check valve I31 prevents contactor 18 from exhausting the pilot cylinder of valve I21 during this operation, and the exhausting of the pilot cylinder of valve I3I, sets it for the next press opening operation.

Cylinder 32 is supplied with hydraulic pressure for elevating the entire press from the supply line I22 through a normally closed reverse-acting Sinclair diaphragm operated two-Way valve I50, the diaphragm of which is controlled by a three-way air operated diaphragm valve I5I operating on low air pressure, which in turn is controlled by a similar valve I52 acting on high air pressure supplied through a Ross" pilot cylinder that it exhausts valves I56 and I51 closing valves I54 and I55 and stopping the press.

Before cam I02 contacts with valve I03, however, cam IIO contacts ,with contactor valve III closing drain valve I54 in advance of closing of drain valve I55 for decelerating the motion of the elevator.

The diaphragm of air valve I5I is supplied through a pipe I10: from master valve I52 through an air valve I 52. When pipe I50 is under pressure, pipe I10 is in exhaust and vice versa. The arrangement is such that when drain valves I54 and I55 are both closed, supply valve I50 would be open if valve I52 were not closed. When the ram 3| reaches its lowest position, however, the valve I52 has been closed as no mold is present on conveyor 23 and no pressure is on the pilot valve of valve I53 and the line from valve I53 to valve I52 is in exhaust. Therefore the supply valve I50 is closed at this position.

The opposite ends of the panel operating cylinder are connected to lines I59 and I10 respectively, the arrangement being such that when contactor valve IN is opened to exhaust causing the press to be lowered, pressure is applied through valve I62 to the front end of cylinder I01 withdrawing the panel so that it will not interfere with lowering of the press; The cycle valve I6I does not open until the pressure in line I59 builds up to a predetermined adjustable pressure and the panel is therefore withdrawn in The dia-' assasso 09am! I dept-cued it reverses master ,1, and returnsthe'panel without openm may valve m.

The wedge operating cylinders 55, 55' have their rear ends continuouslyconnected as at "I to a low pressure air line tending to force the wedges in. Their front ends are connected by a line I12 through a three-way diaphragm-controlled air valve I13 to high pressure air line I35 adapted to over-balance the pressure in their rear ends and to force the wedges back when valve I13 is opened; The diaphragm of valve I13 is supplied by pressure or exhausted through valve I52 and master valve I02, whereas the valve I52 is controlled by master valve I53 the pilot cylinder of which is controlled by contactor valve 13 on the outgoing conveyor. The exhaust line I15 of valve 13 is connected through a three-way air valve I10, the diaphragm of which is controlled by contactor valve I03 and is normally open.

When a mold isdischarged from the press onto contactor valve 13 this exhausts the pilot cylinder of master valve I53 which applies pressure to valve I52 which puts pressure on valves I 5| and I13. Valve I13 thereby applies pressure to the 5 p Aspreviously described, the wedges 50, 50 are urged inwardly under constant low air pressure i-from pipe I1I and their cylinders 55, 55 are of a the *cylinders.

front ends of cylinders 55, 55' and withdraws the wedges. At the same time valve I5I applies pressure to the diaphragm of valve I50 admitting hydraulic pressure to cylinder 32 and causing the press to be elevated. If va1ve,I-03 isdepressed by a mold on the conveyor and 13 is depressed I bye-{second mold, line 115 is closed by the valve I15 so that the wedges are not withdrawn nor the press elevated until themold over valve I03 is removed.

When the press has been elevated, air under pressure isadmitted to. the pilot cylinder of master valve jIj53 byppening of contactor valve 30 thereby; reversing valve I03 which now exhausts valve I52 removing pressure from valves IN and I13'Lthereby'closing' valve I50 to stop elevation of thd pressand exhausting the front ends oi cylinder's' 55f55 so that the wedges are forced inwardly-,bythe pressure in their outer ends.

1 At aliftimes during the molding period between opening/ movements of the press to transfer 1 moldsgthegpress is closed under pressure requiring valve-I20 being open to hydraulic pressure and closed-to the drain and these depend upon the pilot cylinder of master valve I53 being kept under pressure. The pilot cylinder of valve I53 would ordinal' y be. kept under pressure when contactor valve 00 was opened admitting air thereto irom lineI35'. Contactor valve 00 is normaily held open when the press is closed, by the stop 15 on a platen contacting therewith, but when the panel I04 is withdrawn in order to permit lowering of the entire press, stop 16 no longer holds this valve openand due to leakage in the linethe pressuremig'ht be released from the pilot cylinder of master valve 153' now disconnected from the line. To avoid this, a contactor valve 20I is' mounted on the panel in aposition to be opened by a stationary stop 202 when the panel isin its withdrawn position. This valve is adapted'to connect pressure line I35 to the pilot cylinder of master valve I53 to keep it under pressure when the panel is withdrawn. Valve I53 in this position puts air pressure on valves I20 and I23 holding the drain closed and supply line open to cylinder I0 by-supplying air from pressure line I35 through pipe 204 through valve I21 to pipe 200. v

2I0 or thereabout through line 2.

mounted stationary with respect to the press so that they must be withdrawn whenever the press is elevated or lowered. They are withdrawn as previously described by an overpowering air pressure in line I12 applied to the front ends To insure their being withdrawn whenever the press is elevated or lowered, line I 12 is supplied by air under pressure from line I35 through valve I13 either byway of valve Whenever the press is being raised the valve I52 which opens the hydraulic valve I50 to elevate the press supplies air under pressure to the diaphragm of valve I13 opening line I35 direct to line I12 through valve I13. At this time valve 2I0 is open between line I 35 and line I12 but valve I13 is closed thereto, valve 2I0 being held open as its diaphragm is on the same line as the front end of the panel cylinder I01 which is under pressure from master valve I02.

When, however, the press is being lowered valve I13 is reversed by exhaust of its diaphragm by valve I52 which is acting to close the hydraulic valve I50 whereas the diaphragm" of valve 2I0 isstill under pressure due to the necessity of its pressure line being under pres sure to hold back the panel while the press is moving. As a result, air from line I35 then goes throughwalve 2I0 vand valve I13 to the front end of the wedge cylinder, while, line 2 is cut oil at valve I13. When the press is stopped either after elevation or lowering thereof all the diaphragms of valves I52 and 2I0 and I13 are connected to exhaust, as valve 2I0 is on the same control line from master valve I52 as the front ends of the panel cylinder and must be in exhaust to force the panel in, and valve I13 is on the same control line as valve III which must be in exhaust as hydraulic valve I50 must be closed. In this position, the front end of tho wedge cylinder exhausts through pipe I12 by way of valve I13 and 2I0, valve 2I0 being open to exhaust and closed to pressure line I35. The arrangement is such that the press cannot be elevated or lowered without the wedges 50, 54' being withdrawn. While the operation of the component parts of the mechanism have been thoroughly discussed in connection with their construction, the general operation oi the apparatus may be summarized as follows: A procession of molds which'contain moldable material, placed therein in a previous operation, are fed in succession over conveyor 24 to the molding press. The latches 30, 33 obstruct further movementof the first mold in the procession, as show'n in Fig. 2. The timing mechanism 15 has been set to the proper molding period and to open'the press at regular intervalsicorresponding in number-to the number of molds in the press when the press is completely loaded. Assuming that thepress I is compeltely loaded with molds and is closed thereon under pressure, the'timing device 15 opens a mold-receiving space of the press at the level of the conveyors 24, 28, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 which illustrate the press as opened at the second mold-receiving space. The ram 41 advances a mold into the press and pushes a mold out onto conveyor 20 which conveys It away, The press closes automatically and the entire press is then elevated to bring its next lower platen on a level with the conveyor when the press is next opened. Loading is continued at intervals until a mold has been loaded on the -lowest platen and the press ha closed thereon. Theehtire press is then automatically lowered until its uppermost platen is in position for loading. During the descent of the entire press, the wedges which hold the molds during press opening operations, and the panel Hi4v carrying the control pilot valves is automatically withdrawn out of the way and when the descent is completed they are automatically advanced to operative position. The opening of the press at regular intervals acts to work entrapped gases from the molded articles.

By use of the invention, the transfer of molds is maintained at a constant level so that molds -may be fed to the press and away therefrom without lifting of molds.

The opening of one mold-receiving space at a time is accomplished with minimum use hydraulic fluid thereby effecting a saving in operating cost. The automatic control of operations insures uniform molding of the material with a reduction of manual eflort and provides for interlockoperators and to the apparatus.

The opening of the press at regular intervals provides for release of gases from the heated material and assists in providing a superiorand more uniform product.

Variations may be made without departing from the-scope of the invention as it is defined .by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to successive spaces and for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for opening the press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means-for closing the press after each opening movement, and means automatically operable upon closing of the press at the last space of the series for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces' have been loaded.

2. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality ofmovable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to said spaces and for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for-opening the press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means for closing the press after each opening movement, means automatically operable upon closing of the press at the last of said spaces for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces have been loaded, and timing means for automatically controlling in timed relation the operation of the feeding, moving, opening, and closing means.

ing control with a reduction in accidents to 3. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to said spaces and for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for separating the platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces have been loaded, timing means for automatically controlling in timed relation operation of the feeding, moving and opening means, and means for preventing feeding of molds when said feeding means and said spaces are out of alignment.

4. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to said spaces and for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for opening the press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means for closing the press after each opening movement, means automatically operable upon closing of the press at the last of said spaces for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces have been loaded, timing means for automatically controlling in timed relation operations of the feeding, moving, opening, and closing means, and means for preventing bodily movement of said press during mold feeding movements.

5. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to successive spaces and for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for opening the, press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession asthey are aligned with said feeding means, means for; closing the mold platens after each feeding operation, means automatically operable upon closing of the press at the last of said spaces for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces have been loaded, timing means for automatically initiating opening movements of the press at successive molding spaces, means controlled by the press opening movements for initiating in timed relation the mold feeding means, means controlled by the movement of the press feeding 4 means for initiating closing of the press after each mold-feeding movement, and means controlled by closing of the press for initiating bodiliy movement of the press to a new feeding posi- 6. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, means for feeding molds in succession to successive spaces and'for simultaneously discharging molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the press in one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for opening the press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means for closing the press after each opening movement, means automatically operable upon closing of the press at the last of said spaces for bodily moving the press in the opposite direction from the last loading position to the first loading position when all of the spaces have been loaded, and timing means for automatically controlling in timed relation the operations of the feeding, moving, opening, and closing means, said timing means comprising contact means located in the path of the press platens and operable upon contact with the platens, and means for automatically withdrawing said contact means from said path during bodily movement of the press inone direction.

7, Molding apparatus comprising a molding DES-shaving a plurality of movable platens proviQingi-a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, said press being bodily movable a, direction to present different mold-receiving spacesfat' 'a' station'in the'path of movement, means. at s'aid station for feeding molds in succession, to,.'s"aidj spaces between the platens of 'the'press' and for discharging molds therefrom, 'gimeansjforfbodil'y moving the press to align the spaces in' succession with 'said feeding means,

and means for ,separatingfthe platens in succ'easioni'atlis'aid st'ation.to receive and discharge said molds, station while retaining platens at other positions in .mold- 'closing relation.

8. Holding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of vertically movable platens providinggof plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetfige said press being bodily :movablein. a vertical direction to present different mold-receiving spaces at a station in the path of bodily movement of the press, means at said station for'feeding molds in succession to spaces between the platens at said station and *for discharging molds therefrom at ,said station, means for'bodilym'oving the press to align the spaces in. succession with said feeding meana'meansflfor'separating the platens to 91 thespaces therebetween in succession as they arejaligned at said station with said feeding meanaandmeans for retaining some or the platens in molding position during such separating movement.

9. Moldlng' apparatus comprising a molding press having a mummy of-movable platens providing a plurality of mold receiving spaces therebetween, said press being bodily movable in a direction to present different mold-receiving spaces at a station in the path of movement, means at said station for feeding molds in succession to successive spaces between platens at said station and for discharging molds therefrom at said station, means for bodily moving the press to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for separating the plat-ens in succession at said station to present the spaces between the platens in succession as they are aligned with said feeding means, means for retaining some of the platens in molding position, and means for retaining the platen to be loaded in loading position during the feeding movement.

10. Molding apparatus comprising a molding press having a plurality of vertical movable platens providing a plurality of mold-receiving spaces therebetween, said press being bodily movable in a vertical direction to present diiierent mold-receiving spaces at a station in the path of movement, means at the level of said station for feeding molds in succession to successive spaces and for simultaneously discharging'molds therefrom, means for bodily moving the pressin one direction to align the spaces in succession with said feeding means, means for opening the press by separation of platens at one space at a time to present the spaces between the platens in succession at said level as.

opening, and closing means, and means for preventing closing of said press during mold-feeding movements.

11. Molding apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically movable'platens disposed one above the other and providing a plurality of moldreceiving spaces therebetween, means for moving the platens as a group step by step past a station level, means for separating adjacent platens successively at said level, means for successively loading molds and simultaneously dis charging molds between separated platens at saidlevel, means for preventing the separation of platens above said level during each loading and discharging operation, means for heating the platens, and means for applying pressure to all the platens between the loading and dis charging operations.

OTTO E. I-IERMANNS. 

